Decrease in nursing and midwife jobs

Data published by the Scottish government has shown that over 1,500 nursing and midwife positions have gone in the last year.

In the last quarter, 370 full-time workers lost their jobs, according to statistics from the NHS Scotland Workforce publication.

The figures showed there were 4,000 less NHS staff than a year ago. While the Scottish government stated that the losses tallied with their estimates, Labour said the government was enabling the NHS to "haemorrhage" workers.

The data revealed that there were 57,878 NHS nurse and midwife full-time staff in 30 September 20010, but this year on the same date there were 56,309.

The total number of staff - not including dentists and GPs - recorded on the same dates for 2010 and 2011 showed a decrease in numbers from 134,964 to 131,339.

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "The SNP government promised to protect our NHS and frontline workers, but these figures expose the harsh reality is that the SNP is doing neither.

"For all their promises, the SNP has allowed the NHS in Scotland to haemorrhage over 4,000 staff."

Tory health spokeswoman Nanette Milne MSP, said: "These are worrying statistics and confirm what has long been known - that the SNP is failing to protect frontline NHS services.

"These are huge cuts to staffing numbers, and with nursing and midwives positions dropping by over 2,000 in the last year it is the key employees who are being let go."